United States President Donald Trump on Thursday made an unannounced trip to Afghanistan where he celebrated the US holiday Thanksgiving with troops and met with President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in Bagram Military Base.
Speaking to the media, Trump said that meetings with the Taliban had been reestablished. ”The Taliban wants to make a deal and we are meeting with them,” Trump told reporters on Thursday.
“We say it has to be a ceasefire and they didn’t want to do a ceasefire and now they want to do a ceasefire, I believe. It will probably work out that way.”
In response, Taliban leaders told Reuters that the group has been meeting with U.S. officials in Doha since last weekend, and they believe that formal peace talks could resume soon. According to the source, Taliban has shown readiness for the talks with US.
Afghan peace talks have raised many hopes and concerns both at the national and international levels. At the international level, it is feared that the US withdrawal will allow the Taliban to change Afghanistan to the safe haven of the terrorist groups once again. At the national level, people fear that a new round of civil war may resume in the country. However, it depends on vigilance of Afghans and the commitment of the US and its allies to prevent Afghanistan from changing to the safe haven of the terrorist groups once more to threaten the regional and international peace and stability.
Being on the forefront of the war on terror, the brave Afghan National Defense and Security Forces have conducted several air and ground operations independently in recent years and could push back Taliban in most of the districts across the country. These forces are now capable enough to chase terrorists everywhere in the country and has commitments towards peace and stability not only in the country, but also to that of the region and world.
Despite their successful operations and increasing combat morale, the Afghan forces still need US and NATO’s technical and advisory support in term of conducting complicated operations. Therefore, no hasty decision should be made, and all measures should be carefully taken during negotiation with Taliban.
Meanwhile no hasty decisions should be made while agreeing with Taliban. The group has already shown to the Afghan people and the international community that are not fully committed to peace in the country, as they are still carrying out deadly attacks against the Afghan nation and the foreign soldiers.
It is indeed the time for regional agreement to combat terrorism with strong force. Both diplomatic and military ways have to be pursued but if the Taliban persist on their insurgency, no chance for talks should be given to them anymore.
The Taliban had earlier showed reaction towards Donald Trump’s decision of cancelling the talks, saying they will continue their attacks and suicide bombings, they never answered positively to peace offerings. Perhaps the open door for talks will be the last option for the Taliban or else military action should be adopted.
The Taliban need to accept demand of entering into talks with the Afghan government which they have resisted so far. Since the US and Taliban representatives are yet to reach a peace deal without the presence of the Afghan government, regional stakeholders need to use their leverage to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table with the Afghan government.
No hasty deal with Taliban
